Profile: Meet CATS’ very own self-taught clothes designer

By Adin F.

Most people don’t know that Andrew R., a senior at CATS, has a knack for designing clothes.

When walking through a mall one day, looking for clothes, Andrew felt rather unsatisfied with the selection every brand offered. None of them seemed to fit his unique style or the price tag was unreasonable. Then it occurred to him: “I can just make it myself, and I can make it better myself.” 

Andrew was then determined to do so. When asked how he learned to design his own clothes, he said “I was self taught. I kinda just messed around with the strings and made my own knots, like if this holds then it holds. Then I had to figure out certain stitches, and patterns, like crossing, flossing and invisible stitching so you can’t see the string.” 

However, Andrew did have to start somewhere. He began with his pants. “I put a bunch of like patches on my pants of bands and sometimes fill in holes I have in the pants that I didn’t like.” Although it was just the beginning of his journey, he was determined to make them the best he could.

Unfortunately, Andrew does run into obstacles with his craft, one being lack of materials. Having such a distinctive style makes hunting for supplies a hassle, he said. Andrew enjoys using different patterns and colors for his pieces but he says, “Sometimes it’s hard to find the right patterns, size or fabric, so you kind of just rip it up. Hunting for materials to use is definitely the hardest part.”

“The point of the style is to make it yourself — not buy it.”

Andrew R., CATS senior

Despite how difficult it is to acquire materials, Andrew plans to continue to make clothes only for himself. Does he want to pursue a career in fashion design? “I’ve thought about this and I’d rather keep it as a hobby because making for yourself is one thing but making it for other people and them not liking it or not being satisfied,” he said. “The point of the style is to make it yourself — not buy it.”